- A standardized classification code for book subject and genre.
- Format: three letters + six digits (e.g., FIC027030).
- Maintained by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG).
- Books typically get 2-3 BISAC codes.
- Drives genre placement at retailers, libraries, and distributors.
A BISAC code is a standardized classification code used by the publishing industry to categorize books by subject and genre — like "FIC027030" for "Fiction / Romance / Contemporary." Retailers, libraries, and distributors use BISAC codes to place books in the right section. Most books get two to three BISAC codes; choosing them correctly drives genre placement and discoverability.
Chapter i·Why it matters
BISAC codes are how the industry classifies books. The wrong code lands your book in the wrong genre section — invisible to its actual audience. Choosing two to three accurate codes is a 30-minute task that determines visibility for years.
Chapter ii·What to include
- 2-3 BISAC codes per book.
- Primary code: the dominant genre.
- Secondary codes: subgenre, audience age, or cross-genre.
- A BISAC reference: bisg.org has the full taxonomy.
- A retailer-specific check: KDP and IngramSpark allow different code numbers.
- A "review at T+90" rule: revisit BISAC if categorization isn’t working.
Chapter iii·Example
A debut romance author selects three BISAC codes for her 80,000-word contemporary romance: FIC027020 (Contemporary), FIC027080 (Holiday), FIC027430 (Romantic Comedy). The three placements get her into three Amazon sub-categories, and she ranks in the top 100 in all three within two weeks.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom’s Sell studio stores BISAC codes alongside the rest of your metadata package.
See the Sell studio